artificial selection
Human-guided trait selection
Artificial selection is the deliberate breeding of plants or animals to favor desired traits—larger fruit, faster horses, docile temperament.
Unlike natural selection, where environmental pressures determine which organisms reproduce, artificial selection reflects human preferences and goals.
Most domesticated species result from centuries of artificial selection: Corn as we know it exists only through artificial selection.
Of single breed ancestry
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- crossbreedingMating unlike organisms
- linebreedingMating related animals deliberately
- outcrossingBreeding unrelated same-species individuals
inbreeding · bloodline · studbook · breeder · sire · dam · broodstock · seedstock
Gene variant at one locus
- geneHereditary information unit
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
phenotype · heritability · mutation · variation · recombination · inheritance · polygenic · locus
Fostering growth through care
- cultivarBred plant variety
- varietalSingle-grape wine type
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- hybrid seedProduct of deliberate cross-pollination
yield · harvest · germplasm · seed saving · monoculture · polyculture · grafting · rootstock
Deliberate DNA modification
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- GMOLab-altered life form
- transgenicHaving inserted foreign genes
cloning · synthetic biology · bioethics · gene therapy · bioinformatics · recombinant DNA · golden rice · patents
Making wild things gentle
- husbandryFarm management practice
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- companion animalsDomesticated creatures kept for company
- petsDomesticated companion animals
farm animals · herding · pastoralism · docility · captive breeding · feral · wild ancestor · aurochs
purebred
Of single breed ancestry
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- crossbreedingMating unlike organisms
- linebreedingMating related animals deliberately
outcrossing · inbreeding · bloodline · studbook · breeder · sire · dam · broodstock · seedstock · culling
allele
Gene variant at one locus
- geneHereditary information unit
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- DNAHereditary code molecule
genotype · phenotype · heritability · mutation · variation · recombination · inheritance · polygenic · locus · fitness
cultivation
Fostering growth through care
hybrid seed · yield · harvest · germplasm · seed saving · monoculture · polyculture · grafting · rootstock · propagation
genetic engineering
Deliberate DNA modification
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- GMOLab-altered life form
transgenic · cloning · synthetic biology · bioethics · gene therapy · bioinformatics · recombinant DNA · golden rice · patents · regulation
taming
Making wild things gentle
- husbandryFarm management practice
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- companion animalsDomesticated creatures kept for company
pets · farm animals · herding · pastoralism · docility · captive breeding · feral · wild ancestor · aurochs · tameness
- evolutionevolution, mutation, adaptation, speciation, fitness
- breedingbreeder, crossbreeding, mating, breeding pair, outbreeding
- selective breedingcrossbreeding, inbreeding, linebreeding, hybridization, breeding stock
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, genetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, genes, gene
- DarwinCharles Darwin, evolution, HMS Beagle, Galapagos, Darwin's finches
artist, selection, artificial, artisan, selected, selective, artifact, selecting, artifice